Rogue watched as everyone worked quickly around the Institute getting ready for the Brotherhood's arrival. She had convinced Mr. McCoy to let her stay in the common room instead of the med lab. She sighed as she put a bookmark in her new vampire book unable to concentrate with everything going on.

"So this is where your hiding Sheila." A familiar voice said as she looked and saw John enter the common room.

"Ah wasn` hidin` just reading` kahnd of." She said as he took a seat next o her.

John picked up her book from the coffee table and glanced at the title. "You into those sci-fi books?"

"Just tha good ones."

"So not to pry Sheila but how come you were in the med lab?"

Rogue sighed and adjusted herself to be more comfortable on the couch. "Ah guess ya`ll would fahnd out sooner or later. Mah power is ta absorb other mutants powers an` memories. Those memories end up stayin` in mah head. One nahght at a concert they all kahnd of came out."

"Came out?" the Aussie asked confused.

"Fightin` ta take over mah body sort of deal. Ah couldn` stop `em an` than tha professor was able ta get rid of `em all. An` now ah wish some of those memories ah never knew. Lahke Mystique adoptin` me when ah was four."

"Must be good to have your own thoughts in your head right now. But when you absorb them you can use their powers as well?"

"Yea, it kahnd of knocks ya out fer a while if ah hang on."

"What if you hang on too long?"

Rogue looked at him. "ah don` know. Ah…" She couldn't finish when she heard a loud knock at the door. "Great."

"No worries Sheila. Won't let those bloody mates bother ya." He said smiling as he saw Scott walk pass.

************************

Scott hearing the loud knock from the kitchen sighed. Somehow he was appointed to answer the door when the Brotherhood arrived. Frankly he'd just leave them out there. He walked out setting his glass of water on the counter and passed the common room. He backed up for a second taking a double look. He saw Rogue and the fire guy.. He believed his name was John sitting on the couch. "You okay rogue?" He asked eyeing Magneto's recruit.

"Yea ah'm fahne. Ya better answer tha door before they break it down." She told him hearing the doorbell ring a couple of times.

"Right." He said giving a glare to John as he answered the door.

"Summers, what do you know." Lance smirked as he pushed his way through.

"Nice to see you too Alvers." He said grinding his teeth.

"So where's our rooms yo?" Todd asked as he jumped in. "If you don't have enough we can share right cupcake?" He asked smiling at Wanda putting his arm around her.

"Arg!" Wanda said using her power to send Todd flying into the common room.

Rogue and John ducked quickly seeing the flying toad and glanced over at where he was upside down against the wall. "Ya okay?" Rogue asked.

"Yep, she likes me." He said rolling over and stood up.

John smirked. "Whatever you say mate."

"Oh forgot you guys were here too." Todd said making a face as he left the room.

"Do you like ice cream?" John blurted out as soon as Todd left.

"What?" Rogue asked confused.

John gulped. He hadn't meant for it to come out like that. He had wanted to ask her to go get some ice cream with him later. Maybe just the two of them, but he wasn't good at this type of thing. "Do you like ice cream?"

"Of course ah do. Everyone lahkes ice cream." Rogue said.

"Did you want to…"

*Bamf*

They both jumped as John was cut off by the blue fuzzy elf. "Come on meeting in ze Danger Room." He said touching his sisters arm and bamfed out.

"Damn him." He grumble a she got to his feet and followed the Brotherhood and Scott. Next time, he thought.